Voicing concerns: ‘General mind-set is against interfaith harmony’

Members of minority community feel there is no accountability for those who implicate others falsely

SUKKUR: Seminars and workshops on interfaith harmony, peace, social justice and human rights are often held across the country. However, it seems that these efforts have failed to change the mind-set of the general public, Sukkur's Saint Saviour's Church Father Muneer Bashir told The Express Tribune.

Every religion preaches interfaith harmony, love and peace, he said, adding that Islam, in particular, advocates tolerance, peace and brotherhood. Bashir said that it was the duty of religious leaders to spread love through their speeches at mosques, churches, temples and gurdwaras but, unfortunately, due to their vested interests and extremism, they are practising otherwise.

The Punjab government has announced a compensation of Rs5 million and a piece of land for the victim's family, he said, adding this untoward incident could have been avoided had the government and institutions acted responsibly. Quoting a verse from the Holy Quran, Bashir said that killing a human being is like killing the entire humanity and saving a human is like saving the entire humanity.

The police have booked dozens of persons for stoning and burning the couple, he said. However, he added, they will all go free after some time. He was of the view that in cases of blasphemy charges, both the accused and complainant should be placed behind the bars. If the crime is proven against the accused, he or she should be punished according to the law. And if it is not proven then the complainant should be punished. This is the only way to stop people from implicating innocent people in blasphemy cases, he said. Father Yakoob Gill of Saint Mary's Church called the Kot Radha Kishan incident shocking and shameful. He said that we are living in a modern society and claim to be moderate and enlightened. However, he went on, such incidents are tarnishing our image in the world.

Kot Radha Kishan and other such incidents prove that the law enforcers are not performing their duties properly, he said, adding that if the DPO and his subordinates would have acted responsibly, this incident would never have taken place. Islam provides complete security to the minorities but the attitude towards minorities in Pakistan speaks otherwise, he said.

Gill cited the example of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) when he went to see the woman who used to throw garbage on him when she fell sick. This is the true spirit of Islam and extremism is not allowed in any religion, he said.

If everyone acts as a judge and such incidents continue to take place, then where is the writ of the state, he asked. He added that if the people who had earlier implicated Christians in fake blasphemy cases had been punished, then nobody would have dared to become part of the recent tragedy.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 9^th, 2014.